Photo by Siora Photography on Unsplash
In today's society, beauty and perfection are being pushed to the limits like never before. Most people's views of what's beautiful typically depend on the size of a person's body, curves, weight, overall appearance and other physical characteristics. People say that being different is unique. And while that is true, society has set beauty standards which are almost impossible to achieve. This is one of the reasons why body shaming has occurred and is now an issue in communities. According to an article on Walden, body shaming happens when you criticise yourself or when others do it, be it directly or indirectly. This may cause long-term health-related issues that affect a person.
In current times, there is a strong emphasis on idealised beauty across the media. Whether you're tuning in on Instagram, watching TV or reading a magazine; the imagery of what is deemed as the "perfect" body or "flawless" skin is present. And because we're shown continuously such visuals, we are then conditioned to believe that is the standard to achieve. Some people will go to such lengths and become critical of themselves and feel pressured to live up to such measures to fit in.
The criticisms people face, whether it's from themselves or from others, can be cruel. Celebrities, for example, are always in the public eye and have their every step either watched or written about. And some of them also face the same issue of being body shamed. According to Grazia, Ariana Grande had received a comment about being compared to the Modern Family star, Ariel Winter. The comment said that "curves are sexy, sticks aren't". After receiving that, Ariana fought back saying such a statement like that is not okay, and the act of comparing and body-shaming should stop. Other celebrities such as Demi Lovato and Taylor Swift are also victims of online body shaming. However, some stars have opened up to the public regarding their so-called flaws and embracing them. According to an article by Today, the model, Ashley Graham, talked about the stretch marks left on her stomach after giving birth to her baby and being proud of them.
Photo by Felicia Buitenwerf on Unsplash
We all have flaws and insecurities, but that is what makes us human. Having an ideal body and flawless appearance does not define beauty. The truth about being beautiful is about being healthy. Your body is yours, and you have the responsibility of keeping it healthy. If you do not take good care of your body, it will cause some unnecessary health problems. Start being confident with your body and try your best to not care about other people's opinions. The most essential part is body positivity. It will guide you to accept your appearance, feel comfortable in your own skin, reduce the risk of eating disorders and allow your body to function at its best.
All in all, we should not shame others because they don't look like how we want them to look. It's time to normalise supporting and encouraging each other so people can be whoever they want to be. Until everyone realises that, body shaming will continue to be a problem. We should embrace and love our bodies because they do incredible things for us every single day! People should learn to accept and love their body by believing that a certain body type or flawless skin does not define beauty. All bodies are beautiful. So, no matter what size you are, or how unhappy you are towards your appearance; remember your body is gorgeous, and so are you!
By Kiki Yee